BBC Buys TV-Loonland's "Penelope" for CBeebies

The U.K.'s BBC has bought TV-Loonland's preschool animation "Penelope" for airing on CBeebies.

The series, for which TV-Loonland handles multi-territory distribution, is a co-production by Nippon Animation, NHK Enterprises and Shirogumi. It is set to premiere on CBeebies in spring 2009.

"Penelope" has already been sold to ABC Australia, France 5, JIM JAM Italy, MNET South Africa and Scandinavian broadcasters DRTV Denmark, TV2 Norway, RUV Iceland and MTV3/Channel Juniori Finland.

Based on the Gallimard books by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben, the series tells the story about everyday life for the 3-year-old chatterbox Penelope.